AI Empowerment For Small Businesses Course Syllabus

Overview: This course is designed for small business owners and entrepreneurs with little to no technical background who want to harness AI for real-world business growth. Through practical case studies, hands-on exercises, and interactive labs, learners will explore how AI can automate marketing, operations, and customer engagement. The course spans approximately 16–20 hours across six modules, combining foundational AI concepts with direct applications tailored for small businesses. No coding experience is required, making it highly accessible and beginner-friendly.

Module 1: Foundations of Computing & Algorithms

Estimated time: 2 hours

• Case study analysis with real-world examples
• Hands-on exercises applying computing fundamentals
• Introduction to algorithmic thinking for business processes
• Interactive lab: Building practical solutions

Module 2: Neural Networks & Deep Learning

Estimated time: 2 hours

• Introduction to key concepts in neural networks
• Overview of deep learning principles
• Case study analysis with real-world applications
• Assessment: Quiz and peer-reviewed assignment

Module 3: AI System Design & Architecture

Estimated time: 3 hours

• Introduction to AI system design principles
• Discussion of industry best practices
• Understanding scalable AI architectures
• Assessment: Quiz and peer-reviewed assignment

Module 4: Natural Language Processing

Estimated time: 4 hours

• Hands-on exercises applying NLP techniques
• Review of NLP tools and frameworks
• Discussion of best practices in implementation
• Applications in customer service and marketing

Module 5: Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition

Estimated time: 4 hours

• Hands-on exercises applying computer vision techniques
• Review of tools and frameworks used in practice
• Case study analysis with real-world examples
• Interactive lab: Building practical solutions

Module 6: Deployment & Production Systems

Estimated time: 3 hours

• Hands-on exercises applying deployment techniques
• Review of tools for production-ready AI systems
• Case study analysis with real-world examples
• Interactive lab: Building practical solutions

Prerequisites

• Basic familiarity with business operations
• No technical or coding background required
• Access to a computer and internet

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Leverage AI tools to automate marketing and customer engagement
• Apply computational thinking to solve business challenges
• Implement prompt engineering techniques using large language models
• Design and deploy AI-powered applications for small business use cases
• Evaluate AI model performance using practical benchmarks